Orla's Edit
Having spent a great deal of lockdown training in Vivendi Apparel compression wear, not only has Orla Deacon got some incredible experience with our compression leggings and high impact sports bras but she's also found her firm favourites! And to celebrate this amazing woman, we're bring you Orla's Edit with a cheeky discount too!
Orla has chosen our C180 Compression Leggings in White & Gold as well as our matching C180 Sports bra as her firm favourites, as demonstrated beautifully below!
For one week only, we're giving you the opportunity to grab a whopping 60% off any one of our C180 Sports Bras when you buy a pair of our C180 Compression Leggings! That's unbeatable value, allowing you to look as good as Orla in her Vivendi Apparel favourites!
Just use code ORLA at checkout!
Now it's time to find out more about the boxer and the all round champion that is Orla Deacon!
Boxing is a pretty brutal sport, usually associated with blood stained men and screaming crowds. But as a woman making her way into the sport, not only pursuing a professional career but paving the way for young women behind her; Orla Deacon is showing that she doesn’t just have the brute force required to take her to the top, but the sheer grit, determination and brains, that are going to allow her to make her dreams come true.
We took the time to chat with Orla about her boxing career, her health and fitness behind the scenes as well as the benefits of compression wear… because of course, we’re Vivendi Apparel right? Here’s how we got on…
Jenni: Orla! Thanks so much for agreeing to chat with us. It’s been a while since we’ve done a Q&A with anyone and we have to say, we’re pretty excited to be chatting with you! So why don’t we start from the beginning? When did you first get into boxing?
Orla: I have been doing martial arts since I was 4 years old, training and competing at a high intensity in karate, kickboxing, Muay-tai and taekwondo. I then decided to choose just one to focus on. I chose boxing, an Olympic sport, as I also trained in some athletic events. I started training at the gym, the same place my dad trained and haven’t looked back since.
J: Was it a tough decision going pro or a natural progression with your obvious talent?
O: For me it's always been clear that I wanted to breakthrough into the professional game. I love the amateur game so much as a sport, but the professional game suits me with its more aggressive style of fighting. It’s more about the stoppage rather than simply point scoring. I have a ‘fighters instinct’ and my fighting nickname is “The Hunter”, as I hunt down my opponent. I aim to execute, pick my shots and finish the fight before its scheduled end.
J: Having boxed myself as a child, purely for fun I might add, I'm aware that females weren't greatly represented back then (too long ago for me to admit) - would you say that's the same now?
O: It wasn’t that long ago that female boxers were not widely respected at all. There were far less females involved, and due to many barriers - females were unable to train and compete at the same level as males, both technically and fitness wise. There was little respect, hence little investment and promotion, leading to many young females not having that role model in terms of boxing as there was for other sports.
J: Do you feel a lot of pressure to provide the role model that so many young girls are looking for in the sport?
O: I’ve been organically trained since a young age and nurtured into the athlete and boxer I am today. All videos, photos and content seen of me is always absolutely real and raw. So, I guess in some ways, I do feel some pressure to always be a role model but, I’m only 18 and I’m still learning every single day. Having said that, pressure is good – it shows people believe in you. I am so humbled and grateful to already be inspiring young athletes and love chatting to everyone and offering any advice or information I can.
J: What does an average training day look like for you? How many days a week do you train?
O: I generally train 6 days a week, and during camps, 2-3 times a day!
Sometimes I have days off, just to let my body recover but most days off, I’ll do some sort of recovery work, physio or yoga, or sometimes more intense sessions such as cryotherapy tanks, Epson salt tanks, sports massages etc. Rest and recovery is so important, especially on a growing body.
J: How important is compression wear for you? What benefits do you see?
O: So important. With my heavy training load, a pair of compression tights and a compression top allows warmth to be held in, to prevent injury. It’s also vital during my actual sessions, since I put my body through many obscure, unnatural movements for the human body. Compression is vital for support. I work a lot on foot drills, on leg work and it provides much needed support.
J: How important is nutrition? Is it true what they say? 80% nutrition, 20% gym work?
O: Nutrition is crucial to aid training and exercise. It’s the fuel that allows us to move in the first place! It helps us recover after we’ve pushed our bodies. Without the right nutrition, you could find physical activity much harder and struggle pushing yourself to your maximum. I'd say it's paramount that you gain some understanding about food and nutrition, we all have a basic understanding of how to ‘live healthy’ however, if you’re pushing your body through tougher exercise, it's important you understand how to fuel before and afterwards to see the results you're after.
J: Aside from boxing, where are people most likely to find you? What do you enjoy outside of the ring?
O: I love spending time with my friends and family. Staying in... going out, I’m easy. I also take my studies extremely seriously, you'll most probably find me with my head in a book and working for hours on end, as I aspire to qualify to the Bar and become a Criminal Barrister after my career in sport. I love Law and it's what I’m going to be studying at University.
J: Has there been someone vital in your career to date that's really helped you get to where you are?
O: Most definitely my Dad! My Dad has been my coach, manager, nutritionist and mentor, since I started the sport. As well as my best mate and of course Dad! He is the best at what he does and supports me every step of the way! My mum is just as important too. She’s our rock and does whatever she can for me, I am eternally grateful for them! I am also very fortunate to have amazing friends and family who have always been there to support me and help me wherever they can, as I hope I do for them too. Plus, I’ve got a very hardworking and passionate team around me who I love to spend time with.
J: How important is mindset for you?
O: Mindset is so important and can really put you in that top 1%. I believe this definitely applies to life outside of sport too. During training and camps the mind and body might tire, but its those of us who continue to get up in those cold early mornings that succeed - “either sleep with your dreams OR get up and work to make them a reality.”
J : Do you have any top tips for aspiring boxers out there? Any snippets you wish you'd have known when you were younger or even right now?
O: Tips for boxers especially, I would say anything is possible if you’re willing to work exceptionally hard. Always be the hardest worker in the room and never let doubt enter your mind. What is meant for you will find you. NO ONE can do it for you!
J: Lastly, what do you hope for the coming 12 months?
O: I turned 18 in September, so I'm hoping to turn professional now! Other than that, I simply hope everyone has a much better year, remaining as happy and healthy as they can. Never ever give up!
You can find Orla on Instagram at @team_orladeacon